Talking the Code: Combining Alternate Picking and Sweeping

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[destossel]

Troy has really unearthed the truth about picking. His discovery of pickslanting and various other terms that had previously not been defined and categorized should help players learn proper technique. Troy is my age and I would have killed for this knowledge as a younger player. Guitar playing makes more sense with Troy’s fundamentals and I could have avoided so many years of bad habits had I ever realized these picking truths. I’ve cleaned up my playing thanks to Cracking the Code. Thank you will have a seat in guitar history for discovering, categorizing and framing guitar technique in the manner you have.

[scottthompson]

This is the picking style I'm learning right now. It's called directional picking. The concept is to move the pick in the direction of the next note. It's basically economy picking, but not as strict and limiting. Great video.

[tempjohn]

Having only been playing guitar for a little over a year (after 25 years away) I am barely able to manage much of what you are teaching here other than at an incredibly slow methodical pace, but every video expands my thinking and gives me a new chunk of brain to work with when playing. You are a wizard.

[dfranks]

Troy - I just came across your channel today and all I can say is 'Wow!'. I've been playing guitar for over 45 years (self taught) and resigned long, long, long ago that I just wasn't 'one of those guys with the gift'. But your videos is like watching TV shows that the 'magic secrets are revealed'. I literally get chills watching these videos! I'm sure I'm too old to ever get my fingers moving fast enough to play at these speeds but I believe there is lots of information and knowledge I can gain from studying your videos and improve.

[SirKulyeh]

God, I needed this stuff like 20 years ago....

[DemiurgePhoenix]

Amazing! The combination of alternate picking and pickslanting is powerful.
Thanks for sharing some ways to practice two-way pickslanting - it will help a lot!

[finster]

1:21 if you can stare the camera down doing this exercise, you made it dude.

[mjsc]

This stuff....this knowledge....is available right free.
(I'm shaking my head.)
Like many of you, I WISH I'd known this stuff years ago.
I've watched all of the CTC were both informative and hilarious.
For Troy to take the time to create these vids and post them online for mind boggles.
Much Thanks, Troy!

[twisantigo]

Hey Troy, just wanted to say thanks for creating your great instruction videos! Your "Cracking the Code" vids are simply awesome. My playing ability has skyrocketed since I started watching these! Thanks.

[DavidBarrowIII]

This is an even more concise summary of these techniques than the previous summaries. I'm using this one to quickly convince other people of the value of this knowledge.

[Corey_G]

Frank Gambale, is a great source to look to for these sweeping techniques.

I have always incorporated sweeping in my playing since the early 80's, but prefer alternate picking for most of my playing. I even put empty pick strokes for timing.

* You can can use hammers & Pull offs to give you those even an uneven amount of notes on a string.

I've recently tried to incorporate what is known as Hammer-ons from nowhere into my playing.... it is still a work in progress.. LOL! I'm so use to at bare minimum picking the start of any hammer-on or pull-off on a string.

[leonandersen]

Damn. I always alternate pick. Even in arpeggios because i like the sound. But it actually makes a lot of sense to sweep between strings in certain patterns! Thank you!

[claudioandresalistevidal]

You have helped me SO much with all your videos, thank you so much Troy!!

[angelekay]

been watching your show for about a year. you are so informative and I love the visuals. most of it is beyond me and I kick ass at guitar lol

[janosmolnar]

One point to mention you said no one should hear your technique. It is nice to hear technique change the texture of the sound. Like a legato style sweep compared to an economy pick style sweep. The legato rolls and sounds smoother.

[Juliodc]

Hi
I feel like I need more Cascade licks, any plans on making a 2nd part or an extension pack of that great seminar?
Thanks again!

[briann]

Wow, this is great.  This is the first time ive seen anyone discuss the technique I use of economy picking wherever possible... especially in 3's in one direction.

Just a little theory, at high speeds, I don't think you slow are slowing down during an economy(sweep) string transfer.  Instead, you actually do a bit of a circular motion with your arm to make sure you don't arrive at the next string too early.  I do the exact same thing.

And just like you say, the problem becomes when you get to a point where you have to use alternate picking, you tend to slow down or stall, like when you are going from 3 to 2 to 3 to 2 (a great practice routine), or when you are switching directions at the top or bottom. That is where my weakness has been.  But incorporating pick-slanting in these places has helped me a lot.

[BrandonScottFox]

Great vid, Troy! You da man brotha!! Thank you!

[billwilenski]

Awesome job you are the best teachers around

[fallenfalconpwn]

Please, do a video with Rick Graham :)